I. Out of Her Comfort Zone

The months quickly passed, and before Ivory knew it, her eighteenth birthday came around. Ivory didn't tell anyone because she didn't want anyone knowing—but she and Viper were celebrating her birthday later.

Ivory was on the computer, Rover nowhere to be found, and looked up online school to finish her GED. The children were given an education at the foster house, but because she and Viper left months before they would have gotten their diplomas, they didn't finish. Ivory decided to start the basics to graduate and maybe start college online if she ever left the Blue Dragons.

"What are you doing?"

Blue's eyes met hers.

"I'm looking up online classes to get my GED."

"You didn't graduate?"

She shook her head. "Viper and I had a year left, but we left the foster home before graduating."

He thought for a moment. "It's your birthday."

"How did you know?"

"I know everything," he smirked, "and you're eighteen — you know what that means, right?"

Ivory thought for a moment, and a sudden realization came to her. "Oh man, you're going to make me a prostitute."

He smirked. "It's just one day to see how you do."

"I don't want too."

"You have no choice," He said and then left her feeling angry in the room alone.

Ivory rolled her eyes but said nothing as she applied for school online and made a schedule for three classes, unaware of the secretly watching figure.

***

Later that day, Ivory was in Viper's room, talking and having fun. Ivory told Viper that she applied to finish her last year of high school to get a GED, then she shall start online college.

Viper liked the idea and wanted to do the same thing.

"I wish I could have gotten a cake," Viper apologized.

"It's okay, Viper, really. It isn't a big deal."

Viper jumped, "Of course it is, it's your eighteenth birthday! You're legal! Which means — oh fuck—Blue is making you a prostitute!"

"He said I have no choice—so I'm going to purposely mess up so I can still be a hacker," Ivory pulled her back down onto the bed. "Speaking of which, he has this strange tattoo—and this tattoo happens to be the password to the base."

"What is it?"

Ivory recited the tattoo.

Viper thought for a moment but shrugged it off. "It sounds stupid."

"Viper, I think it means something," Ivory began. "I feel that there are so many secrets within the base, and I bet most of them are tied to Blue."

"Did you ask him what the tattoo means?"

"Yes, but he got defensive and said that I'm too nosy."

"Perhaps the tattoo means something. If we figure out what the tattoo means, we'll figure out who Blue really is and his intentions. Then once we figure him out, we'll find out the secret to the Blue Dragons. I honestly thought I was the only one that noticed that something is off."

"Nope, you're not the only one that's noticed that something is off with the Blue Dragons." Ivory said as she thought about the sisters. "Hey Viper, what are your opinions of Lily and Harley?"

"They're bitchy," Viper admitted. "Lily isn't that bad, but Harley is evil. I'll tell you that."

"Do you think that Harley and Blue have a thing?" Ivory asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, do you think they sleep together?"

Viper began to think, "I think he trusts her because she's as crazy as he is and does what he wants. I don't think Harley's his type."

"Blue seems to trust Harley more than Lily."

"Lily is nicer. I would say for Roxie, Birdie, and Swindle H, they aren't around as much. They work for Fox more than they do Blue. I think Fox and Blue are a connection, but I'm not too sure. However, I don't think the prostitutes should be trusted."

"This is all confusing," Ivory sighed. "What should we do now?"

"We need to figure out what's going on, and we could start with the security room because you have access to it. If Blue's tattoo is the base code, then maybe we'll find something."

"Viper, you're a genius! We can do that after I try to purposely fail at being a prostitute."

"Try to fail?" Viper raised an eyebrow.

Ivory grabbed a pillow and slapped her with it, and the two friends laughed, unaware that two people were watching them from outside the bedroom.

The first voice spoke. "Curious ones, they are."

The second answered. "Yes, well—the Blue Dragons is much more complex than they think. It'll only be a matter of time before Viper is gone, and Ivory is all alone. Ivory will soon realize that once you're in a gang, you never leave the gang."

The first voice laughed, "How long do you think until Viper doesn't last?"

"Knowing how dumb she is, not very long. She's only alive because Blue needs Ivory. I'd say Viper will last a few months after her eighteenth birthday. Viper will fall soon, just you wait."

"I'm excited," the second voice said. "Let the games begin!"

Then, the two mysterious figures quietly disappeared without a trace, leaving no evidence lying around to prove that they were there.

***

Later during the day, Roxie came over picked up Ivory, who was nervous out of her mind. Ivory was a virgin and had never experienced her first kiss, so she didn't know what to expect. Roxie informed the new adult that she would be fine and picked out a showy outfit.

Ivory threw on an all-blue outfit: (with subtle hints of red) a blue lace crop top with red laces near her chest, a red bra, a blue shirt, and blue, laced tights. Ivory then put on sparkly red heels as one of the other girls curled her hair to make it voluminous and sparkly red eyeshadow. Ivory had never felt so uncomfortable, but she exited the bathroom as Roxie, and the other girls complimented her.

Ivory jumped when she saw Blue.

"Why are you here?"

He smirked. "Just making sure you're following my orders," he looked Ivory up and down. "You look great in blue."

"Thanks," she felt her face heat up.

She couldn't believe that Blue had complimented her.

After that, she quickly followed Roxie, Birdie, and Swindle H to the car, feeling Blue's eyes glued to her, watching her. She felt nervous around him; something was off about him indeed, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Yes, he was a dangerous gang leader, but he was definitely something more. Ivory sometimes worried that he was catching onto her suspicions from all of the questions that she asked, or maybe he just found her nosy. She wasn't too sure.

The car ride was silent. Ivory felt her stomach twirl in nervousness, scared about what she would have to do, and what the male clients might do to her. The thoughts made her shiver, but she couldn't keep her mind off the disturbing thoughts. Roxie pulled up to a club with red and blue lights flashing all over the place and loud music. Ivory felt nauseated but kept herself from vomiting all of the meals she had eaten previously.

Ivory entered the club with the three women.